L3Harris has demonstrated the integration of its Red Wolf launched effects vehicle onto the SKY RAIDER II INTERNATIONAL aircraft, showing how the two systems could be paired to expand operational flexibility for future missions, the company stated.
The test fit builds on earlier integration work and is intended to show the platform’s capacity to accommodate systems with similar size, weight, and power characteristics as mission needs evolve. L3Harris said the demonstration reflects growing interest from special operations forces in platforms capable of deploying long-range cruise missiles and launched effects to extend operational reach.
Quinlan Lyte, President of Advanced Effects at L3Harris, was quoted as saying: “Launched effects like Red Wolf are designed to integrate across a range of platforms to give operators more flexibility in how they execute the mission, whether that’s kinetic or non-kinetic effects.”
He added: “Efforts like this highlight how those capabilities can be extended on adaptable aircraft such as SKY RAIDER II INTERNATIONAL.”
The SKY RAIDER II INTERNATIONAL is designed to operate from remote locations and unimproved runways, providing endurance and payload capacity for extended operations. L3Harris said that pairing the aircraft with launched effects such as Red Wolf would allow operators to deliver effects at distance while maintaining a persistent overhead presence.
The company described the approach as reflecting a shift towards more distributed operations. The aircraft features a modular open systems architecture that supports the addition of new capabilities over time, while an integrated flight and mission management system helps reduce crew workload. Red Wolf has already been demonstrated across multiple air and ground platforms, according to L3Harris.
The Red Wolf system was recently selected by the U.S. Navy for its Precision Attack Strike Munition programme, and the U.S. Marine Corps has conducted low-altitude live fire demonstrations with the system from an AH-1Z Viper helicopter.
